-
ForALLFacultyatFanshaweCollege
Educator December2011
theWithTheBOG:OneStep,TwoStep,ThreeStepFour?
ofthismeetingwaspublishedintheNovember2011editionofTheEducator).
StepTwo:MeetingwithBoardRepresentatives
OnNovember9,BrittaWinther,CrispinColvin(ViceChairoftheBoard),MargRae(thepreviousPresidentofLocal109),andDarrylBedford(presidentofLocal110)met.Thefollowingitemsofconcernwerediscussed:
ViolationsunderBoardPolicyD20,InteractionswithStaff.ThispolicystatesthatthePresidentcannotretaliateagainstanemployeewhoraisesacomplaintingoodfaith,forexample,orcannotcausenorpermitconditions,proceduresordecisionsthatareunfairordisrespectfultoemployees.
Treatmentandaccommodationofillorinjuredworkers
ActionsandroleofHumanResources Employer/employeerelations
DysfunctionatthesupportstaffUnion
CollegeCommittee(UCC)
DeactivationofLocal109semailaccount
InterferencewithLocal109sofficersandreleasetime
Firingoftheparttimesupportstaffduringthestrike
Nonunionizedworkers'concernsnotbeingaddressed.Thismeetingconcludedwithan
agreementthatBrittaWintherandCrispinColvinwouldconsidertheinformationpresentedbythelocalsandthatanothermeetingwouldbescheduled.
StepThree:AnotherMeetingwithBoardRepresentatives
OnThursdayNovember24,WilSorrell(thenewlyelectedPresidentofLocal109)
andDarrylBedfordmetwithBrittaWintherandCrispinColvin.
InthismeetingWintherconfirmedthattheCollegeiscommittedtoimprovinglabourrelations,howevershedecidedthattheconcernsraisedbyLocals109and110wereoperationalinnatureandnotmattersfortheBoardtoconsider.TheBoardspositionisthattheCollegesinternalmechanismsareadequatetoresolvetheissues.
Asaconsequence,theBoardwillnotprovidethelocalswithanopportunitytopresentworkerconcernstotheBoarddirectly.NorwilltheBoardofGovernorsacceptthepetitionsignedbyover450employees.WintherindicatedthatshewouldreportonthemeetingtotheBoardincamera.
WintherdidsaythatsheandColvinwillmeetwithHowardRundleandJeffLow,AssociateDirectorofHumanResourcestodiscusstheconcernspresentedbythelocals.
BedfordandSorrellexpressedprofounddisappointmentthattheBoardwouldnotbeabletoheardirectlyfromthelocalpresidents,asworkerissueshavetakenabackseatfortoolong.TheyweresomewhatheartenedthattheChairwouldbespeakingwithRundleandLow.Timewilltelliftherewillbeanytangibleresults.
StepFour:StayTunedLocals109and110arenowconsidering
thenextstepstobetaken.Therearehundredsofemployeeslookingtoseewhethertheirissuesmatter,andofcourse,fivefiredworkerscountingonus.
Wtv|z
ToimproveourrelationshipwiththeCollege,thefacultyandsupportstaffhavemadeanumberofconstructivesuggestionstomanagementinrecentyears.Wecontinuetoapproachemployer/employeerelationsinaprofessionalandcollegialway.
Whatisourgoal?ToworktowardsacultureatFanshawethatisrespectful,collaborative,dynamicand...darewesayit...enjoyable?
Supportstaffandfacultycan'tchangethingsonourown.Senioradministrationmustbeawillingpartner.Thelocalshaveattemptedtoresolveemployeeconcernsthroughtheinternalprocessesavailable,withlimitedsuccess.Formalandinformalconversationsandmeetingshavetakenplace,andcountlessemailssent.
Outoffrustration,weturnedtotheBoardofGovernorsinthehopethattheBoardwouldmakeimprovingemployer/employeerelationsapriority.
SinceSeptemberthesupportstaffandfacultylocalshavetriedthreetimestogetemployeeissuesontheBoardofGovernorsagenda,withnosuccess.
StepOne:Impromptu,InPersonOnSeptember22,afterthestrikewas
over,about25employeesattendedthepublicBoardmeeting,andaround12wereletin.Onegoalforthismeetingwastopresentapetitionsignedbyover450employeesrequestingthereinstatementoffiveparttimeworkersfiredduringthesupportstaffstrike.ThepetitionwasacceptedbyBoardofGovernorsChairWinther,referredtoHowardRundle,butwasnotsharedwiththeBoard.TheemployeeswerenotgiventimeattheBoardmeetingtopresenttheirconcerns;instead,theyweretoldtofollowprocesstogettheirissuesontheBoardagenda.ThenextmorningRundleclaimedhedidnotknowwherethepetitionwas.(Adetailedaccount
-
Page 2
OPSEULocal110officers
President:DarrylBedford
1stVP:KathrynTamasi
ChiefSteward:FredVarkaris
Treasurer:KathleenDindoff
Secretary:JenniferBoswell
FanshaweCollege(RoomD2018)P.O.Box7005
1001FanshaweCollegeBlvd.London,OntarioN5Y5R6
Ph.(519)4524205Fax(519)4535345
Email:[email protected]:http://www.opseu110.ca
NewsletterCommittee:JenniferBoswell(Editor)
KathrynTamasiDarrylBedfordPaulEvans
Approvedfordistribution:
DarrylBedford,PresidentOPSEU110
ReachLocal110at:
theEducator
Web: www.opseu110.ca
Email: [email protected]
Inside this issue: Presidents Message 3
Safety First! 4
Pension Plan Update 5
Chief Steward on Vacations 6
A Governors Struggle 7
If I Had Two Million Dollars 8-9
The Value of NothingBook Review 10-11
Happy Holidays! 12
PreBargainingSurvey:Dontforgettofillitout!
Theintentionofthissurveyistogatherfeedbackregardingpotentialbargainingdemandthemesinupcomingnegotiationsforthe2012Collectiveagreement.Weencourageyoutoparticipateinthissurveyasoneofthewaysyoucanbeinvolvedinthenegotiationprocess.Furtheropportunityforyourinvolvementwillincludeattendanceatyourlocaldemandsettingmeeting.
www.opseu110.ca/survey
Username:yoursurname
Password:yourpostalcodewiththespace
[email protected].
Happy Holidays!
-
PresidentsMessagebyDarrylBedfordTheConversationBegins
Page 3
are?Well,whennewlyelectedLocal109PresidentWilSorrellandImeetwithheronNovember24thwegottheCollegesanswer.Youcanlearnmorebyreadingthearticleinthisissue.
SomethingfunnyhappenedafterthePresidentsBreakfast.Local110distributedtotheparticipantsaFactSheetillustratingtheincreaseinstudentsandprogramsandthedecreaseinfulltimefacultyfrom1991to2010.Thekeymessagewas:"Youcan'texpecthighlyeducatedandexperiencedindividualstomovetoLondon,signaleaseoramortgage,raiseafamily,andspendmoneyinthedowntowniftheydon'tknowwhethertheywillstillhaveateachingpositionthenextterm."ItisatoughmessagebutImakenoapologiesasitisthetruth.
Theissueofgoodjobsistooimportantforustostaysilent!
Themediapickeduponit.YoucanreadTheLondonFreePresscoverageathttp://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/11/22/19003011.html
Withaclearandrelevantmessage,thoseofuswhoareconcernedaboutthecontinuing,andgrowingexploitationofparttimeeducationalworkerscaninfluencetheconversation.
Lettheconversationbegin.IwishallemployeesatFanshaweCollegeaHappy
Holiday,andbestwishesfortheNewYearahead.
Insolidarity,
theEducator
AtourmeetingonNovember22ndwewelcomedournewlyelectedbargainingteamcochairCarolynGaunt.Itwasthefirststepinthebargainingprocess.GreatpointswereraisedandCarolynwilltakethosebacktotheteam.Sheremarkedthatthe24collegeacademiclocalshadsomanythingsincommondespitethediversityofourcolleges.Thismeetingwasjustthebeginningofanimportantconversation.
Ifyouthinkaboutit,collectivebargainingisallabout"conversations."Conversationswithmembers.Conversationswiththeotherside.Andconversationswiththemediaandthepublic.IsTheCouncilwillingtobargainingoodfaith?Iguesswellfindoutsoonenough.Engagingthepublicinaconversationistoughinaneraofsoundbitesand140charactertweets.WediscussedallofthatonNovember22ndandmore.
ThatwasnttheonlyeventthattookplaceonNovember22nd.FanshaweorganizedaPresidentsBreakfastattheLondonConventionCentre.IhadtosmileattheChairoftheBoardofGovernorsBrittaWinther'sopeningremarks,whichweretotheeffectof"Fanshaweisnotaboutbuildings,itisaboutthepeopleinthem."Youcouldhavefooledus.
MaybeBrittahasbeenreadingLocal110snewslettercolumnsorTheEducatorandisfinallycomingaroundtohowimportantworkerissues
http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/11/22/19003011.htmlhttp://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/11/22/19003011.htmlhttp://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/11/22/19003011.htmlhttp://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2011/11/22/19003011.html
-
justthewaywedrive!
Keepmoving.Donotstopinthemiddleofthehallway.
Waitinalinetogetintoclassrooms.Donotswarm.
Beawareofyourbackpacks,rollingcasesandcarts.
Beconsiderateofcrutches,wheelchairsandscooters.
Makeroomforemergencyworkers.
Leaveinanorderlyfashionduringfiredrillsandemergencysituations.
Avoidusingphonesandtextingwhilewalking.
Avoideatingandbecarefulcarryinghotbeverageswhilewalking.
Usecommonsenseandbeconsiderateofothers.
Implementationofprocedures Howcanthesecommonsense
policiesandpracticesbeimplemented?
Articlesinstudentnewspapers Articlesinthestudenthandbook
Professorscaneducatenew
studentsontheprotocolatthebeginningofthesemester.
IamcurrentlyrunningahallwayauditandIaskforyourinputtohelpidentifyproblemareas.Pleasecalloremailmeifyouhaveanyconcernsorinformation(contactinformationabove).
Smoking
Thenewsmokingpolicyrestrictssmokingto14designatedareasaroundtheCollege.Itisprohibitedelsewhereandsupportedbyasystemofwarningsandfines.Itismyperceptionthatthispolicyisonlyselectivelyenforced.Rainandthecomingsnowwillcause
Page 4 theEducator
Safety First BY John conley
HereswhatshappeninginthehealthandsafetyworldofFanshaweCollege.
CrowdedHallways
Iperceiveaproblemwithcrowdedhallways,particularlyatthebeginningoftheterm,andmainlyduetothenewstudentpopulation.Theproblemisverycrowdedhallwaysinbetweenclasses,whichmaybedangerousforegressduringafiredrilloranemergencysituation,andaccessforemergencyworkers.Backpacks,rollingcasesandcartsmaketheproblemevenworse.Troubleareasinclude,butnotexclusively,thehalloutsideD1052,thehallinAbuildingbytheloungearea,thefirstfloorDEFjunction,thepassagebythebookstoreandtheentrancetothelecturetheatreinRbuilding.Iamsuggestingahallwayprotocol,basedlargelyoncommonsense.Students,aswellasstaffandfacultyshould:
Keeptotherightofthehallway,
JointHealth&SafetyCommittee(JHSC)CoChairJohnConley(JC)cell5193193742emailjconley@fanshawec.caLocal110HealthandSafetyRep.LianneWongcell5193194162lwong@fanshawec.ca
smokerstocrowdaroundentrances,causingahealthhazardtononsmokers.Ifyouobservethisbehaviour,pleasecall4400andsecurityofficerwillbedispatchedtothearea.Theywillrespondquicklyandthiswillhelptospreadthewordtootherabusersaboutthenewpolicy.Itwillalsocreateapapertrailsotheenforcementcanbemonitored.
SnowandIce
Itwillbegettingslipperyverysoon.Pleasewatchyourstepasyouenterthecollegeandcall4400ifyoufindanareathatneedssaltorsnowremoval.Alsobeawareofslip,tripandfallhazardsinsidethedoorwaysaswell,duetomeltingsnowandwater.
Ifyouhaveanyhealthandsafetyconcerns,theofficialprotocolistoapproachyoursupervisor.Ifyouareuncomfortableindoingthis,I,LianneWong,oranyUnionStewardcantakethisforwardtothesupervisorforyou.Ifthereisnoadequateresolution,oriftheproblemisCollegewide,itcanbebroughttotheJHSC(JointHealthandSafetyCommittee).
Iaminterestedinanyandallhealthandsafetyconcernsyouhaveaboutyourworkplace,andwouldbegladtoofferadviceandassistance.
~Prof.JC
-
AbouttheCAATPlan
TheCAATPlanisthe30thlargestpensionfundinCanada.
Unlikethesituationfacingotherunionsandtheirpensionplans,theCAATPlanisexcludedfromcollectivebargainingundertheCollegesCollectiveBargainingAct.Instead,theCAATPensionPlanisgovernedanindependentBoardofTrusteeswithrepresentativesfromOPSEUAcademicandSupportStaff,OCASA(AdministrativeStaff),andCollegesOntario.Theemployerandemployeetrusteesjointlymakedecisionsforthebenefitofallplanmembers.
Updates:NewPublicationsOnline
TheCAATPensionPlanwebsite(http://www.caatpension.on.ca)hasanewlook.TherearenewPlanpublications,includingupdatestothePensionerHandbook,MemberHandbookandsomeofthepamphlets.Plus,thereareanewseriesofbookletsabout"MakingChoices".
OnMay31theCAATPlanhelditsfirst"webinar"onthetopicofplan
funding.Youcanplayitbackbysurfingtothewww.caatpension.on.casite.
2010Returns
TheCAATPlanfundcontinuestogrowwithanotheryearofdoubledigitreturns.TheCAATPlan'snetrateofreturnin2010was12.6%,bringingnetassetsto$5.45billionatyearend,upfrom$4.85billionattheendof2009.AllofthePlansassetclassesperformedwellduringtheyear.
InitsmostrecentfilingwithregulatorsforJanuary1,2011,theCAATPensionPlanshowedthatitisadequatelyfundedwithamodestgoingconcernsurplus.
PartTime,PartialLoad,andSessionalFacultycanparticipatetoo!
AcommonmisconceptionisthatyoumustbeamemberoftheuniontocontributetotheCAATPensionPlan.Notso.Ifyouworkparttime,partialload,orsessional,theCAATPlanreferstoyouasan"OtherThanRegularFullTime"(OTRFT)employee.AnOTRFTemployeeistechnicallydefinedbythePlanassomeonewithafixedcontract
enddate.BeforejoiningthePlan,OTRFT
membersmustcompleteawaitingperiodof24monthsof"continuous"employment.Generally,ifyouconsistentlyworkedparttime,partialload,orsessionalhoursduringthe24monthperiodinquestionyouareconsideredtohavecompletedcontinuousemployment.Itneednotbeacompletely"continuous"periodofworkasvacationperiodscanbeincludedinthe24months.Onceyouhavecompletedthewaitingperiod,theCollegeshouldnotifyyouthatyouareeligibletoenrolinthePlan.Ifyouthinkyouareeligibleforthepensionplanbuthaven'treceivedanapplication,feelfreetocontactusinD2018orbyemail.
Pension Plan UpdatePage 5
[email protected].
Have a Restful Break!
http://www.caatpension.on.cahttp://en/members/publicationshttp://en/pensioners/pensioner-handbook-2011http://members/member-handbook-2011http://members/member-handbook-2011http://members/member-handbook-2011http://members/member-handbook-2011http://en/members/member-pamphletshttp://en/members/publications/making-choiceshttp://www.caatpension.on.cahttp://../../investments/annual-performance/caat-plan-fund-continues-grow-another-year-double-digit-returnshttp://../../investments/annual-performance/caat-plan-fund-continues-grow-another-year-double-digit-returnshttp://../../investments/annual-performance/caat-plan-fund-continues-grow-another-year-double-digit-returnshttp://../../investments/annual-performance/caat-plan-fund-continues-grow-another-year-double-digit-returns
-
ChiefStewardsReportbyFredVarkarisRequestingandBookingVacationTime
theEducator Page 6
Asweheadtowardtheendof2011,Iwouldliketoextendwarmholidaygreetingstoeveryoneandwishallofyouahappynewyear.
If,asafulltimefacultymember,youintendtotakeholidaysotherthanduringtheweekofDecember26thto30th,youshouldcompleteavacationrequestform,availableinyourschool.
Article15.01AoftheCollectiveAgreementstates(emphasisadded):
Afulltimeemployeewhohascompletedonefullacademicyear'sservicewiththeCollegeshallbeentitledtoavacationoftwomonthsasscheduledbytheCollege.Afulltimeemployeemayrequestand,withtheapprovaloftheCollege,mayhaveavacationthatisscheduledinperiodsotherthanacontiguoustwomonthblock.AfulltimeemployeewhohascompletedlessthanonefullacademicyearsservicewiththeCollegeshallbeentitledtoatwomonthvacationperiodandshallbepaidtheremainderoftheemployeesproratedannualsalary.TherequestoftheemployeeshallbeinwritingandacopyprovidedtotheUnionLocalPresident.
Wheretheemployeerequestsavacationinotherthanacontiguoustwomonthblock,theemployeeshallbeentitledtofortythree(43)weekdaysofvacationnotincluding
anyholidaysassetoutinArticle16.Facultymembersmustfillouta
vacationrequestformiftheyplantotakevacationoutsidetheusualtwocontiguousmonthsofscheduledvacation.Anyvacationtimetakenwillresultinthetwomonthsbeingreducedaccordingly.
Youmaywanttorequestvacationtimeforsomeoftheintertermdaysduringtheyear.Forexample,ifyouteacha15weektermthesedaysincludeDecember19thto23rd,2011,February27thtoMar2nd,2012(ReadingWeek),aswellassomeothers.Youdonothavetoincludeanyofthefollowingholidaysinyourrequest(Article16.01A):
TheuseofthevacationrequestformisrelativelynewandwascreatedtoaddressconcernsraisedbyboththemanagementandunionmembersofWMG(WorkloadMonitoringGroup).
AlthoughArticle11.01G1providesfulltimefacultymemberswiththeabilitytoperformsomeofourassignedtasksoffcampus,theCollegemayhaveneedtocontactanyoneofusandhastherighttorequestourpresenceoncampuswithinareasonableamountoftime.Failuretobeavailablewithinareasonableamountoftimemayresultindisciplinaryactions.Ifyouplanonbeingunavailableduringnonvacationtimes,
itisadvisablethatyoucompletethevacationrequestformtoavoidanypossibilityofthishappening.
Asschedulingduringcontactweeksbecomesmoreconvoluted,ithasbecomedifficulttoschedulemeetingsattimeswhenallfacultymembersareavailable.Thishasresultedinincreasinglymoremeetingsbeingscheduledduringnonteachingweeks.Ifanyofthesemeetingsarescheduledduringanassignedoranapprovedrequestedvacationtime,youarenotobligatedtoattend.Similarly,ifyouarenotabletoattendduetohealthreasons,communicateyourregretsandtakethetimeassickleave.
Ifyouareunavailabletobeoncampusforhealthreasonsorbecauseyouareonvacation,clearlycommunicatewiththeCollegetoavoidanymisunderstandings.Asalways,ifyouhaveanyfurtherquestionsaboutthisoranyotheraspectsoftheCollectiveAgreement,pleasecontactme.
Isincerelywishyouandyourfamiliesallthebestduringthisholidayseason.
FredVarkarisChiefSteward&
WorkloadMonitoringGroupCoChair
Unionoffice:[email protected]
FamilyDay VictoriaDayCivicHoliday ThanksgivingDayGoodFriday
CanadaDayLabourDay
mailto:[email protected]
-
Page 7
expectationthatprogramscontinuallyincreasetheirContributiontoOverhead.Theselatterissueshaveadirectimpactonstudentsthroughincreasedclasssizesanddecreasedservices.TheStudentSuccessCentreanditscounselorscannotkeepupwiththedemandsoftheincreasednumberofstudents.AllthesearecriticalissuesthataffectthemoraleoftheemployeesatFanshaweCollege,buttheBOGwillneverknowaboutthem,orrefusestohearthem.
Ihavetoaskmyself,istherereallyanyvalueinhavinganinternalgovernor?CanIpossiblymakeadifference?IcanraiseissuesaslongastheyfitwiththegovernancemodelutilizedbytheBOG,buttheagendaitemsdonotaffordanopportunitytodealwithmanyissuesthatwillimpactemployees.
Asweembarkontheseasonofgiving,myhopeforChristmasisthefivefiredemployeesgetagiftofemploymentbackandnotthelumpofcoalgiventothemintheformofapinkslip.
ForallFanshaweemployees,managers,andmembersoflocal109and110,IhopeyouhaveaSafeandHappyHolidaySeason.
Ifyouwouldliketodiscussany
issues,[email protected]
accountabletotheBoardofGovernors.TheBoardwishestoensurethatitestablishespoliciesconcerningitsrelationshipwiththePresident,itsexpectationsofthePresident,thePresidentsauthority,thePresidentsrights,thePresidentsexpectationsoftheBoard,andthePresidentscompensationandtermsandconditionsofemployment.
Therefore,thepresidentisultimatelyresponsibleforthecollege,itsemployeerelations,anddecisionsmadebythecollege,suchasthefiringofthefiveworkers.
CantheBOGintervene?Asafacultymemberin2006,Iwasintheoppositeposition.IwasoneoftheprotestersrequestingtheBOGhearourissue.Inthatcase,theprotesterswereallowedtoaddressthemembersoftheBoardeventhoughtheywerenotontheagenda.
SowhywouldBOGmembersnotwanttousetheirdiscretiontoinvitetheprotesterstospeakthistime?Wouldntoneoftheexpectationsofthepresidentbeapositiveworkingenvironment?TheBOGdidreviewtheEmployeesurvey,whichdidnotratethecollegeenvironmentfavourably.TheSeptemberprotestwasafurtherindicationoftheinternalproblems.
TheissuesthatareimportanttomembersofLocal109and110willneverbediscussedattheBOG.Iamreferringtomajorissues,likecontinualdelaysinschedulingofarbitrationsandworkplacebullying.Iamalsoreferringtotheincreaseinfulltimestudents(up20%),decreaseoffulltimefaculty(down28%),andthe
TherearemanywaysonecoulddescribewhatitislikeasthefacultyrepresentativeontheBoardofGovernors(BOG)atFanshaweCollegebeingcaughtbetweenarockandahardplace,abalancingact,walkingatightropeandtheyallfit.
Challengingyes;frustratingattimes;surreal,forsure.
InSeptember,membersofLocal109and110attemptedtodrawtotheBOGsattentiontheirconcernsbypresentingapetitionthatcarriedatotalof467signaturesprotestingtheterminationoffiveemployeesduringtheSeptember2011supportstaffstrike.IwasawareofthepetitionasanemployeebutasaBoardmember,Iwasnotmadeawareofthecontent.Theemployeesaskedatthemeetingiftheycouldbeincludedontheagenda,buttheyweredenied.
Thepetitionwasinsupportofrehiringthefivefiredworkerswholosttheirjobsbecausetheysupportedtheirfellowworkersbynotcrossingthepicketline.ManymembersofbothlocalswerepresentattheSeptemberBOGmeetingwearingChangebuttons.Boardmemberswereawarebythepresenceoftheemployeesandheightenedsecuritythattherewasaconcern,butneitherunionpresidentwasgivenpermissiontospeakatthatmeeting.
Thisisthebalancingact:theBOGdoesnotdealwithoperationalissuesandthiswasperceivedasanoperationsissue.However,theBOGonlyhasoneemployeeandthatisthepresident(PolicyC01):
TheBoarddirectstheworkofoneemployee,thePresident,whois
TheBalancingAct:AGovernorsStruggle
theEducator
BoardofGovernorsReportbyKayWigle
mailto:[email protected]
-
theEducator Page 8
IfIHadTwoMillionDollarsHUMOUR
ItwasannouncedtotheBoardofGovernorsthatFanshawereceived$3.4millionmoreingovernmentgrantsthanoriginallyforecastinthe201112budget.$1.4millionwasputtoeliminatinganypossibilityofadeficitthisyear.$2millionwasusedforaStrategicInitiativeFundtobespentbyfiscalyearendMarch31,2012.Whatwillitbespenton?Nobodyknows.Thedocumentsarentspecific.ItisjustbutonelineonasinglepagefinancialupdateprovidedtotheBoard.
Wethoughtwewouldsingaboutit.WithallapologiestotheBarenakedLadies:IfIhadtwomilliondollars(IfIhadtwomilliondollars)I'dputitinthebudget(Iwouldputitinthebudget)IfIhadtwomilliondollars(IfIhadtwomilliondollars)I'dteachtheBoardaboutthebudget(Maybeanicecourseabouttheoverhead!)AndifIhadtwomilliondollars(IfIhadtwomilliondollars)Well,I'dbuyyouaclassroom(AnicespotatOxburyMall!)IfIhadtwomilliondollarsI'dbuyrespeect...IfIhadtwomilliondollarsI'dbuildparkingspotsdowntownIfIhadtwomilliondollarsTellmeSEM,canenrolmentreallygodown?IfIhadtwomilliondollarsMaybewecouldkeepfoodserviceatZopenYouknow,wecouldjustgooverthereandhangout
-
AndusethecomputerlabwerenotsupposedtoTherewouldalreadybethirtythreeotherfacultysentoutWecouldtalkaboutGPSskylightsandthingsVoice1:TheyhaveGPSskylightsatZbuttheydon'thaveashuttlebus.Voice2:Well,canyoublame'em?Voice1:Uh,yeahIfIhadtwomilliondollarsWewouldn'thavetowalktoZbuildingIfIhadtwomilliondollarsNo,we'dtakealimousine'causewalkingsucksIfIhadtwomilliondollarsWewouldn'thavetoeatKraftDinner...Voice1:ButwewouldeatKraftDinnerVoice2:Ofcoursewewould,thefoodserviceisclosedVoice1:AndbuyreallyexpensiveketchupswithitVoice2:Thatsright,allthefanciestket...SEMWorksketchups!Mmmmmm,Mmmoney,HmmmIfIhadtwomilliondollars(IfIhadtwomilliondollars)Well,I'dbuyyousomeDatatel(ButnotrealDatatel,that'scruel)IfIhadtwomilliondollarsIdbuyyourrespeeect...Iftheyhadtwomilliondollars,IftheyhadtwomilliondollarsIftheyhadtwomilliondollars,IftheyhadtwomilliondollarsIftheyhadtwomilliondollarsItdgotocapital!
theEducator Page 9
-
theEdu
modelthatIperceivedisthecriticalfunctioningstructurethatdefineshowtheworldworks,sotospeak.Rep.Waxman:Inotherwords,youfoundthatyourviewoftheworld,yourideology,wasnotright,itwasnotworking.Greenspan:Precisely.ThatispreciselythereasonIwasshocked,becauseIhadbeengoingfor40yearsormorewithveryconsiderableevidencethatitwasworkingexceptionallywell.Theimportanceofthisadmission,and
similaronesbyotherhighlyvisibleeconomistsandadvisorshassincebeenburiedinthehindsightandrationalizationsofcommentarysince2008,includingclaimsthattheriskinthefinancialmarketswasincorrectlypriced,traderswererewardedforpushingriskintothefuture,andtheoldwewereworkingwithbaddataargument.Allthesesubsequentrationalizationsandexplanationscoveruptherealitythatallthatwasbelievedaboutfreemarketswasprovenwrong.
ThefirstpartofTheValueofNothingdealswithsomehistoryofeconomictheoryleadinguptofreemarketideology,anditsflawedfundamentalsandassumptions.Newwaysofthinkingaboutthewayswevaluetheworld,andtheinteractionsbetweensocietyandmarketsarethefocusofthesecondpartofPatelsbook.
Patelmakesaseriesofcompellingargumentsaboutthefailingsoffreemarketide
ology,takingthereaderfromJohnStuartMilltoKarlPolanyisTheGreatTransformationtotheChicagoSchoolofEconomicsEugeneFama,originatorofthemarketsaresmartEfficientMarketHypothesis(1960s),toGaryBeckers(1970s)Homoeconomicus.Thistheoreticalconstructhashumanbeingsalwaysactingrationallytomaximizeresultsforthemselves,anideathatisdemonstrablyfalse,inmanyways.Corporations,whicharelegalpersons,morecloselyfollowthebehavioursofHomoeconomicus,andtheirinfluenceinourgovernmentshasagreatdealtodowithfreemarketfundamentalism.
Aseriesofengagingdiscussionsabouttheflawsoffreemarketideologyfollowtheshorthistorylesson:thepriceofthingsdoesnotreflecttheirtruevalue;ifitdid,waterwouldbeworthagreatdeal,asitsvitaltolifeitself,anddiamondswouldbeworthlittle.Anothercorrectionisthatmarketsdependonsociety;societydoesnotdependonmarkets,asiscommonlyassumed.
Thedivisionsbetweengovernmentandthemarketareutterlyfalse,accordingtoPatel.Therecentfinancialcrisiswouldhaveresultedincompleteeconomiccollapsehadthepublicnotbeentheretopropupthesystem.So,toobigtofailmeanssobigthatitcandependonsocietytopickitupwhenittopples,completelydestroyingtheoftheardfreemarketmantratokeepgovernmentout.
PatelrelaysPolanyisideathatfreemarketsupporterswouldhaveusbelievethatmarketsarethedoctor,andsocietythepatient:nottrue,aswehaveseenwithrecentextraordinaryfailures.Patelcarefullyoutlineshowmarketshavebeenshapedoverthelastfewhundredyears,andhowtheyinturnhavetrappedpeoplewithinacertaincultureandpoliticsthatmakeithardtoseethatuncontrolledmarketsarenotthecorrectwaytovaluetheworldandareactuallydestroyingit.Thisbookoftenturnsacceptedthinkingonitshead,makingittrulyinterestingtoread.
Backedbyextensiveresearchandknowledge,wittyandwithcomictiming,Patelisrelentlessinhisattackonfreemarketthink
(Continuedonpage11)
Page 10
TheValueofNothingbyRajPatelRajPatel,authorofTheValueofNothing:WhyEverythingCostsSoMuchMoreThanWeThinkisadistinguishedscholarwhoattendedOxford,theLondonSchoolofEconomics,andCornell,earningdegreesinphilosophy,politics,economicsanddevelopmentsociology.CurrentlyavisitingprofessoratBerkeley,hehasbeencalledtherockstarofsocialjusticewriting,amonikerwhichperhapsundervaluesanddemeanstheimportanceofPatelswork.
Therockstarlabelsuitsinonesense,however,becauseinpersonPatelishandsomeandyoung,andeasilycommandsattentionwithpassionandwit.Patelhascalledhimselfamuttofglobalization,ashehasaKenyanmother,aFijianfather,wasborninLondon,EnglandandhaslivedinseveralEuropeanandAfricancountries,beforepausingfornowinSanFrancisco.
Evenmoreinterestingly,tohisdismayandconsternation,hehasbeenpronouncedthesecondcomingofBuddha,theMaitreya,byfollowersofareligiousgroupnamedShareInternational.
Howmuchmoreinterestinga39yearoldcouldonehopetomeet?
Patelsgoalsinthisbookatfirstseemquiteplain:hetacklesthefinancialcollapseof2008bypointingoutthefailuresofthefreemarketsystemthatdominatestheGlobalNorth.AstartlingrevelationbyAlanGreenspan,19yearChairmanoftheUSFederalReserveandfreemarketeconomicguruisthestartingpointforthefirstchapter,TheFlaw.
TestifyingbeforeU.S.Congressaboutthecrisis,Greenspansstatementsrevealachastenedandbewilderedman,whoadmitsunderquestioningthathisformerideologyMyjudgementisthatfree,competitivemarketsarebyfartheunrivalledwaytoorganizeeconomies.Wehavetriedregulation,nonemeaningfullyworkedwasflawed.
Hisadmissionisnotaboutacorrection,oranimprobableblackswanproblemthatarisesfromtheconfluenceofunlikelyevents:hisadmissionwasthatfreemarketideologyitselfwas,appallingly,wrong:
Greenspan:Ifoundaflawinthe
Review/PrcisbyJenniferBoswell
-
ing.Heisespeciallyscathingwhenitcomestomarketbasedsolutionstoclimatechange:capandtradeinitiativesaresimplyturningacommongood,theatmosphere,intoacommoditythatyoucanfoulforafee.Patelsputtersthatgettingthefreemarkettosolveclimatechangeislikeasking
anicebergtofixtheTitanic.Preposterous!criesPatel,andasadillustrationofhowblindwehavebecometoalternatewaysofvaluingtheworld.
PartTwoofthebookoffersexamplesofthecountermovementsthat,accordingtoKarlPolanyi,inevitablyariseinreactiontotheharmsthateconomicsystemsinflict.Thesecountermovementsarenotnostalgicwishesforareturntothepast,butusingnewtools,economicandother,suchmovementsattempttomitigatesomeofthedamage:Todayscountermovementswilltweetandblog,usingthelatestideasandtechnology,aswellasoldfashioneddirectaction,tofightforadifferentandsustainableworld.
Environmentalmovements,andtherecentOccupyactionsareexamplesofcountermovementsresultingfromthedamagecausedbyfreemarkets.Patelnotesthattherearemanycountermovementsaroundtheworld,buttheyarenotwidelyreportedonandmanyofthepeopleleadingthemarepoor.
Manyofthesemovementsarereinventingthecommons,sotospeak.Theideaofthecommonsisimportanttothisbookasawhole:PatelwritesabouttheenclosuresofthecommonlandinBritaininthe18thand19thcenturies,andtheturningofcommonsintocommoditieswhichwasthe
goal,andresult.Fisheriesareaparticularlygoodexampleofhowfreemarketsprofitfromwhatwaspreviouslyacommonresourcebutbecauseoftheirneedforcontinualexpansionandrapaciousness,inevitablycauseitsdestruction.
Modernmovementsareworkingtoreclaimandredistributesomegoodssuchasland,water,seed,foodresourcesandshelteraccordingtoneed,sustainability,andthegrassrootsdemocraticwillofthepeople.Thesemovementsarenotcommunistic,buttheyrenotpurelycapitalisteither.Patelpointstomovementsthatattempttocreatemarketsthatarenotcoldlyprofitdriven,butonesthatservemoreresponsiblythesocietyinwhichtheyoperate.Forthistohappen,themovementsthemselvesneedtosetthetermsofvalueforthingstheirpeopleneedtosurvive,andnotletoutsidemarketsdoso.
PatelhaslongbeenassociatedwithLaViaCampesina,aninternationalpeasantmovementformedin1993.Thismovementhasover150millionmembersaroundtheworld,andoneofitsoriginalorganizersisnowpresidentofBolivia,EvoMorales.LaViaCampesinausesameticulouslydemocraticprocessthatistheresultofbeingtoldbytoomanysocalledexpertswhatisbestforthem.Theyarefightingforwhattheycallfoodsovereignty.
Theactionsofunrestrictedmarketsinseedshasbeenespeciallyrepugnant,anddetrimentaltotheGlobalSouth.Corporationshavetakentheknowledgeofgenerationsoffarmers(knowledgeheldincommon)thattraditionalseedsrepresentandpatentedthegeneticcodeswithin,creatingintellectualproperty.Onecountermovement,theDeccanDevelopmentSocietyinIndia,avillagelevelassociationofpoorwomen,haveintheirquestforfoodsovereigntycreatedcommunitygenebanksthatholdtraditionalseedsthatcanbeborrowedforfree.
PeopleinanothermovementinDurban,SouthAfricasoughttherighttosettleonsomepublicland.TheAbahlalibaseMjondoloshackdwellermovementalsorejectedoutsidehelp;itsmembersdeclaredtheywereprofessorsoftheirownsufferingandinsistedontheirrighttoshelter.Atfirstbeaten,abused,andtreatedassubhumanbythepolice,theyarenowbeingdefended
Therearetwonovelsthatcantransformabookishfourteenyearoldslife:TheLordoftheRingsandAtlasShrugged.Oneisachildishdaydreamthatcanleadtoanemotionallystunted,sociallycrippledadulthoodinwhichlargechunksofthedayarespentinventingwaystomakereallifemorelikeafantasynovel.Theotherisabookaboutorcs(172).
bythem.HomeforeclosuresinPhiladelphiaarebeingfoughtbyanorganizationcalledACORNtheAssociationofCommunityOrganizationsforReformNow.Theyrecruithomedefenderstostaywithfamiliesunderthreatofeviction,andpeacefullyresist.
Afterseveralcountermovementexamples,wegettothetrulyradicalkernelofthebook:peoplemustfightforchange.Patelacknowledgesthatchallengestothestatusquoinevitablyleadtochargesofcriminality.OneneedonlyremembertheavalancheofnegativecommentsdirectedattheOccupymovement.RajPatelknowsthatthosewhochallengethefragileconsensusaroundhowmarketsoperateinsocietywillnotbetolerated,atfirst.Hisbookarguesforthenecessity,moralityandinevitabilityofdirectactionagainstfreemarketeconomicideologyanditsharms.
Marketshavebeenaroundformuchofhumanhistory,andPateldoesnotseektoeliminatethem.Buthearguesthatwemustpiercethemodernmythsthatfreemarketsarethecuretoallsocietalillsandrecognizethattheyaredependentonsociety,andshouldbeaccountabletosociety.Marketsdontexistinavacuum,anymorethansocietydoes,somarketsshouldnotbeallowedtoactasiftheydo.
ThetitleTheValueofNothingreferstoOscarWildesquotethatNowadayspeopleknowthepriceofeverythingandthevalueofnothing.Patelsbookisarousingandconvincingattempttoremedythisdiresituation.RajPatelarguespassionatelyandconvincinglyfortheneedtoinventandoperatewithinnewermarketforms,onesthatarealreadybeingbroughttolifeinpoorareasoftheworldincluding,perhaps,somerightoutsideourowndoors.
Page 11
RajPatel
-
Happy Holidays! from
Fred,Kathryn,Darryl,Kathleen,Jennifer,SandraandLynne
...and All the best to you and
your families in the New Year!
theEducator
For ALL Faculty at Fanshawe College EducatorDecember 2011Page
#Inside this issue:The Conversation BeginsPage #Page #Page #Page
#Page # Board of Governors Report by Kay WiglePage #Page #Page
#Page #
/ColorImageDict > /JPEG2000ColorACSImageDict >
/JPEG2000ColorImageDict > /AntiAliasGrayImages false
/CropGrayImages true /GrayImageMinResolution 300
/GrayImageMinResolutionPolicy /OK /DownsampleGrayImages true
/GrayImageDownsampleType /Bicubic /GrayImageResolution 300
/GrayImageDepth -1 /GrayImageMinDownsampleDepth 2
/GrayImageDownsampleThreshold 1.50000 /EncodeGrayImages true
/GrayImageFilter /DCTEncode /AutoFilterGrayImages true
/GrayImageAutoFilterStrategy /JPEG /GrayACSImageDict >
/GrayImageDict > /JPEG2000GrayACSImageDict >
/JPEG2000GrayImageDict > /AntiAliasMonoImages false
/CropMonoImages true /MonoImageMinResolution 1200
/MonoImageMinResolutionPolicy /OK /DownsampleMonoImages true
/MonoImageDownsampleType /Bicubic /MonoImageResolution 1200
/MonoImageDepth -1 /MonoImageDownsampleThreshold 1.50000
/EncodeMonoImages true /MonoImageFilter /CCITTFaxEncode
/MonoImageDict > /AllowPSXObjects false /CheckCompliance [ /None
] /PDFX1aCheck false /PDFX3Check false /PDFXCompliantPDFOnly false
/PDFXNoTrimBoxError true /PDFXTrimBoxToMediaBoxOffset [ 0.00000
0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 ] /PDFXSetBleedBoxToMediaBox true
/PDFXBleedBoxToTrimBoxOffset [ 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 ]
/PDFXOutputIntentProfile () /PDFXOutputConditionIdentifier ()
/PDFXOutputCondition () /PDFXRegistryName () /PDFXTrapped
/False
/CreateJDFFile false /Description > /Namespace [ (Adobe)
(Common) (1.0) ] /OtherNamespaces [ > /FormElements false
/GenerateStructure false /IncludeBookmarks false /IncludeHyperlinks
false /IncludeInteractive false /IncludeLayers false
/IncludeProfiles false /MultimediaHandling /UseObjectSettings
/Namespace [ (Adobe) (CreativeSuite) (2.0) ]
/PDFXOutputIntentProfileSelector /DocumentCMYK /PreserveEditing
true /UntaggedCMYKHandling /LeaveUntagged /UntaggedRGBHandling
/UseDocumentProfile /UseDocumentBleed false >> ]>>
setdistillerparams> setpagedevice
